This week is America’s 231st Birthday, so what else but an American Beauty?
This Cocktail can be had on the rock, up or as a shot.

Cheers to the USA!

American Beauty

1 oz. Brandy
1 oz. Dry Vermouth
1/4 oz. Ruby Port
1/4 oz. Grenadine
1 oz. Orange Juice

Mix everything in a cocktail shaker with ice. Strain into a chilled cocktail glass, an iced filled highball glass or into a shot glass (pictured here) for a quick toast!

Time to take our mid Summer pause to celebrate independence day. It may mark our struggle against tyranny and taxes, but for the majority of us it means fireworks, parades and food! This means drinks for all that celebrating and washing down those eats. We’ve assembled a fun collection of Cocktails with an American Theme.

Here’s a few to get you started:

All American
American Sweetheart
Americano
Red White & Blue

more American Cocktails …

Vote for your favorite picture of the year through cocktails.

Enjoy watching the Academy Awards with one of these Best Picture Nominee-inspired cocktails. These drinks will sure to have you on your feet by the end of the night, declaring: “You like me, you really like me!”

Royal-Tea
(Created in honor of the Academy Award-nominated film The Queen)

2 parts Beefeater Gin
2 parts brewed and chilled Earl Gray Tea
Squeeze of lemon juice
Spoonful of sugar

Serve over ice in a rocks glass garnished with lime wheels.
*Recipe & photo credit: Beefeater Gin

The Departini
(Created in honor of the Academy Award-nominated film The Departed)

2 parts Tequila Tezón Reposado
1 part Martell Cognac
1 part Cointreau
1 tbsp agave nectar
Squeeze of lime juice
Shake well and serve up in a martini glass. Garnish with a lemon wedge.
*Recipe & photo credit: Tequila Tezón

Sunshine in Malibu
(Created in honor of the Academy Award-nominated film Little Miss Sunshine)

1 part Malibu Mango Rum
1 part Malibu Pineapple Rum
Fill with orange juice
Combine ingredients in a highball glass over ice.
*Recipe & photo credit: Malibu Rum

Babel-On the Rocks
(Created in honor of the Academy Award-nominated film Babel)

2 parts Kahlúa
1 part Stoli Elit
Float 2 parts half & half
Serve over ice in a rocks glass.
*Recipe & photo credit: Kahlúa

Lychee Letters
(Created in honor of the Academy Award-nominated film Letters From Iwo Jima)

.5 part SOHO Lychee Liqueur
2 parts Martell Cognac VSOP
1 part pomegranate juice
1 part orange juice
Spoonful of sugar

Serve over ice in a rocks glass.
*Recipe & photo credit: SOHO Lychee Liqueur

more Hollywood Cocktails…

This is quite a busy week, with Chinese New Year, Presidents Day and Fat Tuesday right in a row and the Oscars coming up on Sunday. So enjoy them all and watch for some new themed cocktails for your Oscar Party.

This week’s drinker was sent in by reader Cavan, is a refreshing mixture of Cognac, Apricot Brandy and Lemon Line Soda and we just can’t find enough good brandy drinks. Thanks Cavan.

on to the drink…

This week we feature a very versitle cocktail, which is aptly named “Night & Day”. I figured it would be perect for the New Years Weekend a head. A tasty combination of Champagne, Cognac and a bit of Campari, I may just be sipping these all weekend.

If you missed it last week, don’t for get to vote for your Absolute 100 (shameless plug for our sponsor), I posted a few of mine here.

on to the drink…

Happy Holidays! ‘Tis the season to be jolly and what makes me more jolly than a few cups of holiday cheer. We’ve put together a fun hip collection of cocktails & punches for you to to test on your party guests. Keep checking back as this list will be growing throughout the month. Cheers!

Holiday Cocktails
Holiday Punches

Q: What is the best way to drink brandy?

A: Brandies, including fine Cognacs and Armagnacs can be enjoyed many different ways. One of my favorites is the classic sidecar, a refreshing blend of brandy, lemon/lime and triple sec.

If you have a cheap bottle (not recommeded) mix it with something, anything. Here’s a few drink recipes made with brandy. In some places, brandy is used instead of whiskey in many drinks. In Wisconsin, Old Fashions and Manhattans are routinely made with brandy.

The classic way to enjoy a well aged brandy is in a brandy snifter at room temperature. The drinker then holds the bowl of the snifter in the palm of his/her hand to gently warm the brandy and release all the aromas. Brandies are typically served in this fashion as an after dinner drink.
There is a general age rating system for brandies. This system is a good guide for cost and taste for selecting brandies:

AC - aged at least two years in a barrel
VS - “Very Special” - 3 year minimum in a barrel
VSOP - “Very Superior Old Pale” - 5 year minimum in a barrel
XO - Extra Old”, Napoleon or Vieille Reserve - 6 year minimum in a barrel
Vintage - Aged in the barrel and marked with the vintage date when bottled (kinda like wine)
Hors D’age - So old, don’t ask if you should mix it with coke. Really this is old shit, savor every sip!

Brandy can be enjoyed neat, in a cocktail, as a fine after dinner drink. So be sure to read the label and drink accordingly.